If there was anyone to blame for Oregon’s loss to the team with the worst record in the Pacific-10 Conference — Arizona State — on Saturday, Luke Jackson made it clear who it was.
Jackson said it four times, all in different contexts , but his point was clear.
“I take full responsibility for this loss,” he said.
So if there was ever any question of who is the leader of this team, Jackson answered it. If there was ever any question as to whether Jackson truly cared, it was clear through his somber, slow tones after the game.
But it was something else that Jackson said that stuck. Something that put this season and what lies ahead in clear perspective.
“This team is so close to being a great team,” Jackson said.
Too true.
Right now, Oregon ranks ‘good’ at best on the success scale. The ‘great’ spot is reserved for a Stanford or an Arizona.
That’s not to say that Oregon can’t be great. The Ducks have shown a hint of greatness at times this season.
But the difference between the good teams and the great teams is like the separation between the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA Tournament .
Oregon has lost three of its last four games and now must go on the road to play two tough schools in the Bay Area. One of them is the best in the country.
With every Oregon loss, the window that casts light on a respectful postseason closes a little bit more. That window is nearly shut.
Oregon will not make the NCAA Tournament this year.
Hear me out.
Oregon has two chances to make it. And only two.

Right now, at best, Oregon finishes the regular season 16-9 overall and 11-7 in conference. Of course, that’s if Oregon beats Stanford on the road. So, 15-10 and 10-8 seems more probable, meaning Oregon beats Cal on the road and finishes with home wins against USC and UCLA.
And 15-win teams don’t receive bids to the Big Dance.
So here are Oregon’s two chances of making the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year.
1) Win out — meaning the Ducks beat Stanford. It would be a miracle, Oregon would receive national attention, and most importantly, the Ducks would have their first quality win against a top-25 team this season.
Defeating Stanford would help to move Oregon from on the bubble to inside the bubble.
2) Win the Pac-10 Tournament. Oregon did it last year, and it gives the Ducks an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Not an easy task, but if the Ducks did it once they can definitely do it again.
And for chance number three — I know, I thought of another one — if Oregon just plays basketball, plays for the love of basketball, plays with the potential that is there, and doesn’t play for postseason, the Ducks just might make it.
“This team, we’re playing for the Oregon Ducks, for the name on the front,” Oregon guard James Davis said. “If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
The Ducks are beginning to make a believer out of me.